Swivel units and damper assemblies using same



Jan. 23, 1962 Filed July 11, 1958 M. GOLDSMITH ET AL 3,01 7,899

SWIVEL UNITS AND DAMPER ASSEMBLIES USING SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 SWIVEL UNITS AND DAMPER ASSEMBLIES USING SAME Filed July 11, 1958 Jan. 23, 1962 M. GOLDSMITH EI'AL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 23, 1962 M. GOLDSMITH ETAI. 3,017,899

SWIVEL uurrs AND DAMPER ASSEMBLIES usmc SAME Filed July 11, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wi l" United States atent 3,017,899 SWIVEL UNITS AND DAMPER ASSEMBLIES S NG SAME Morris Goldsmith, Port Chester, and Robert R. Stein,

Mamaroneck, N..Y., assignors to Elgen Manufacturing Corporation, Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 11, 1958, Ser. No. 747,975 2 Claims. (Cl. 137-601) This invention relates to swivel units and damper as semblies containing same.

In damper assemblies having a damper frame with one or a plurality of damper blades pivotally mounted therein, it is customary to secure an actuating bracket unit to each blade and pivotally secure a cross-actuating element (e.g., a bar or rod) to each of the brackets so that movement of the actuating element by hand or actuating mechanism pivotally rotates each blade along its pivotal axis and, in the case of a plurality of blades, rotates them synchronously along their pivotal axes. The actuating brackets are attached so that the actuating element of a damper having a plurality of blades clears all the blades irrespective of the direction of rotation and operative or pivotal positions of the blades. Damper assemblies of this type often have at least two blades that rotate in the same or opposed angular direction at the same time.

These assemblies should be constructed with great care in order to assure their proper operation. Because of the degree of precision required in constructing and assembling such damper assemblies, they are generally built for a particular type of installation. Consequently, individual component parts of the damper assembly are often constructed, at least in part, by hand and their dimensions based on the requirements of the particular installation.

In operation of these assemblies, it is essential that the pivotal connections (i.e., where the actuating element is secured to the bracket unit) that are operatively associated with at least two blades travel substantially the same angular distance or are when their respective blades are pivotally rotated from one operating position to. an; other. Furthermore, these blades shouldiindeigo this angular rotation without being subjected to bindin Still further, the damper blades should close at the"sarrie"time. To assure the proper operation of the damper assembly and the attainment of these operational requirements, the damper blades should have parallel pivotal axes, the pivotal connection of each of these brackets with the actuating element should be positioned relative to its associated blade and each other so as to travel an equal angular distance when the blades are pivoted from one position to another, and the pivotal connections should be positioned with respect to each other so that movement of the actuating element causes the pivotal connections to define arcs that lie in substantially the same plane.

In accordance with the invention, we have found that the problem of providing a satisfactory damper assembly that will meet satisfactorily the difficult conditions and requirements referred to above can be adroitly solved by replacing conventional damper blade bracket units with our swivel unit. Our swivel unit comprises a longitudinally extending tubular housing terminated at one end with socket means and terminated at the other end with flange mounting means, a depressible ball element swivelly fitted in said socket means and normally urged therein, resilient means retained in said housing normally urging said ball element in said socket means and permitting depression of said ball element along the longitudinal axis of said housing, a shank projecting outwardly from said ball element, and fastening means associated with said shank for receiving and retaining a rod element in transverse relationship to said shank. Our swivel unit permits the ball element to be depressed up and down in the tubular housing and rotate from side-to-side as wellas up and down in the socket. Such versatility of movement (i.e., pivotal or rotatable, and depressible movement) of the ball element provides the swivel unit with extraordinary flexibility of movement that makes the unit Well suited for damper assemblies having at least one blade, assemblies having at least two damper blades that rotate at the same time in the same angular direction, as well as assemblies wherein one or more blades rotate in one angular direction at the same time as one or more blades rotate in an opposed angular direction.

In the accompanying diagrammatic drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of a damper assembly having two damper blades that pivotally rotate in one angular direction at the same time a third blade pivotally rotates in a different angular direction;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the type shown in FIGURE 1 along the line 22 of FIGURE 3 showing the blades in a partially open position;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the damper assembly shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 when the blades are in a partially open position as illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed sectional view of springloaded ball and socket swivel units that are attached to (a) each of the damper blades shown in the damper assemblies illustrated in FIGURES 1-3 and 6, and (b) the upper and lower damper blades shown in the assembly of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the swivel unit shown in FIGURE 4 without the associated actuating rod;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a damper assembly wherein each of its damper blades pivotally rotate at the same time in the same angular direction;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view of a damper assembly having damper blades that rotate in the same manner as the blades shown in FIGURES l-3, but diifering therefrom in that the middle damper blade has an adjustable spring-loaded ball and socket swivel unit (the adjustable swivel unit is shown in detail in FIGURES 5 and 8) that permits finer adjustment of the middle blade and obviates or prevents any tendency or the middle blade to flutter or bind; and

FIGURE 8 is a detailed sectional view of the adjustable swivel unit that is attached to the middle damper blade shown in FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail wherein like numerals are employed to designate similar parts throughout the various figures, it will be observed that FIGURES 4 and 5 show a spring-loaded ball and socket swivel unit 10 having a longitudinally extending tubular housing 11 terminated at one end with a socket 12 and terminated at the other end with outwardly projecting flanges 13 and 14 having holes 15 and 16, respectively, therein which, permit the unit to be attached to the damper blades by means of rivets 17. FIGURE 4 shows the unit 10 attached to a damper blade 44. The socket 12 has an elongated slot therein extending from the apex of the housing 11 to points therebelow on opposed sides of housing. The tubular housing 11 obliquely projects from the flanges 13 and 14 and the associated damper blade to which it is affixed. A depressible ball element 18 is swivelly fitted in the socket 12 and is normally urged therein by a resilient spring 19. The spring 19 is supported in the housing 11 by a cross bar 20 that extends across the housing 11. The spring 19 normally urges the ball element 18 snugly in the socket 12 and permits depression of the ball element 18 along the longitudinal axis of the housing 11. When the force that depresses the ball element 18 is released, the ball element is urged back snugly into the socket 12. A shank 21 radially depends outwardly from the ball element 18 through the slotted socket 12. The shank 21 has a transverse opening 22 extending therethrough for receiving an actuating rod element 30 and has a set screw 23 associated with said opening 22 which serves to secure the rod element 30 therein when'the screw is advanced in the shank. The ball element 18 is swivelly fitted in the socket 12 so that it may move in various planes from side-to-side as well as up and down, thereby enabling the shank 21 and the rod element 30 that is attached thereto to move in many angular directions. This freedom of movement of the ball element 18 and shank 21 gives the swivel unit 10 a shelfaligning feature and prevents binding of the elements of the bracket itself as well as the damper blades.

The swivel unit 10 shall hereinafter be referred to as an upper, middle or lower swivel unit 10, depending upon the particular damper blade to which it is attached.

FIGURES l-3 show a damper assembly 40 having upper and lower damper blades 42 and 44, respectively, that pivotally rotate in one angular direction at the same time the middle blade 43 pivotally rotates in an opposite angular direction. More specifically, the damper assembly 4 shown in these figures has a damper frame 41 adapted to be positioned in a passage through which a flow of fluid medium is to be controlled and three damper blades 42, 43, and 44 pivotally mounted in the frame 41. The damper blades 42, 43, and 44 are of similar construction and pivotally associated with the frame 41 by means of bearing pins 45 that are retained in laterally extending channels 46, 47, and 48 in blades 42, 43, and 44, respectively, by means of bearing straps 49. The blade 44 has L-shaped actuating means 91 extending outwardly from the frame 41. The actuating means 91 may be secured to or integral with the adjacent bearing pins 45. The actuating means 91 permits the assembly to be actuated from outside the duct. The bearing straps 49 are secured to the blades by means of rivets or the like. The pivotal axis of each of the blades is spaced an equal distance from the longitudinally extending edges of the blade which extend across the frame 41. Further, the pivotal axes of the blades 42, 43 and 44 are parallel with respect to each other and lie in a common plane.

A swivel unit 10 such as shown in FIGURES 4 and is attached to the upper and lower damper blades 42 and 44 of assembly 40 on the same side of a plane defined by the frame 41 and on the same Corresponding surfaces of the blades (e.g., the upper surfaces when the blades are in a horizontal position) and equidistant from the pivotal axes of their respective blades. The actuating rod element 30 is securely fitted in the transverse openings 22 of shanks 21 of the upper and lower swivel units by means of set screws 23. The pivotal and depressible shanks 21 of the upper and lower swivel units 10 maintain the actuating rod 30 outwardly beyond the longitudinal edges of all the blades when the blades are pivotally rotated to their various operating positions. The rod elements 30 is aligned by the shanks so that it always defines a path that is substantially perpendicular to the pivotal axes of the blades.

The middle damper blade 43 of assembly 40 has a middle swivel unit 10 that is attached thereto on the same side of the plane defined by the frame 41 as the upper and lower swivel units, but is attached thereto on the opposite surface (i.e., the lower surface when the blade is in a horizontal position) of the blade 43. One end of a connecting rod element 50 is secured in the opening 22 of shank 21 of the middle swivel unit 10 by means of set screw 23. The other end of rod 50 is secured to a hole 63 in a rotatable trunnion 61 that is supported by bracket 60. The hole 63 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trunnion 61. The bracket 60 is attached to the lower damper blade 44 by means of rivets or the like on an opposite side of its pivotal axis from the lower swivel unit 10. The longitudinally extending ro- Y to the trunnion 61 is substantially perpendicular relation thereto by means of set screw 62 which extends from one end of the runnion 61 along the longitudinal axis of the trunnion to the opening 63 in substantially perpendicular relationship thereto. When the set screw 62 is advanced in the trunnion 61, it extends into the opening 63 and securely engages the rod 50 therein. The middle swivel unit 10 and bracket 60 are aligned with each other, but not with the upper and lower swivel units. Although the rod elements 30 and 50 may be in different planes, they move in paths that are substantially perpendicular to the pivotal axes of the blades.

FIGURE 1 shows the damper assembly 40 with its blades 42, 43 and 44 in a closed position. When the actuating rod 30 is moved in an upward and outward direction so that the blades 42, 43 and 44 may be pivoted to either partially open positions such as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3 or a fully open position wherein the blades are substantially horizontal, the upper and lower damper blades 42 and 44, respectively, pivotally rotate in the same angular direction and at the same time the lower blade 44 drives by means of middle swivel unit 10, rod 50 and bracket 60 the middle blade 43 in a reverse angular direction.

When the blades 42, 43 and 44 of the assembly 40 are positioned in a fully open position, the three blades will be substantially horizontal, substantially parallel to each other, and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the frame. In all operating positions, the shanks 21 of the upper and lower swivel units 10 will be substantially horizontal and substantially parallel to each other, and the innerconnecting actuating rod 30 will be substantially parallel to the plane of frame 41. Still further, when the blades are fully open, the rod 50 connecting the middle blade 43 with the lower blade 44 will be obliquely positioned with respect to the middle and lower blades and substantially perpendicular to the shank 21 of the middle swivel unit 10.

When the blades of assembly 40 shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 are to be closed, the rod 30 is moved downwardly and inwardly thereby closing all the blades at the same time.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a damper assembly 70 wherein each of the damper blades 42, 43 and 44 rotate at the same time in the same angular direction and close at the same time. In this particular assembly, all three swivel units 10 are in alignment on the same side of the plane of the frame 41, and are positioned an equal distance from the pivotal axis of the particular damper blade to which they are attached. Therefore, the pivotal connections (i.e., where the actuating rod 30 is secured to the swivel units 10) are operatively associated with their respective damper blades and each other so as to travel an equal angular distance when the blades are pivoted from one position to another. Further, the shank elements 21 of all three swivel units maintain the actuating rod 30 outwardly beyond the horizontal edges of all the blades when the blades are rotated to their various operating positions. When the damper blades are in a fully open position, that is, when the damper blades are substantially horizontal, substantially parallel with re spect to each other, and substantially perpendicular with respect to the plane of the frame 41, the shanks 21 will likewise be substantially horizontal, substantially parallel with respect to each other as well as the damper blades, and will position the actuating rod 30 outwardly beyond the adjacent longitudinal edges of the blades in a position that is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the frame 41.

FIGURE 8 is a detailed sectional view of an adjustable swivel unit that is shown attached to the middle damper blade 43 in the assembly 90 illustrated in FIG- URE 7. This modified swivel unit 80 has a longitudinally extending adjustable sleeve 81 with an arcuate cross section that generally conforms to the arcuate contour of the longitudinally extending, obliquely mounted tubular housing 83 and partially encircles the housing. The sleeve 81 has a narrow, elongated, longitudinally extending slot 8 2 that permits a set screw 86 to pass therethrough and permits the loosening and tightening of the sleeve 81 to the inwardly projecting threads 85 in the tubular housing 83. By loosening the set screw 86, the sleeve 81 may be moved in a longitudinal direction with respect to the housing 83 and secured in place by tightening the set screw 86. Movement of the adjustable sleeve 81 longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the slot 82 serves to selectively limit the angular movement of the ball element 18 and attached shank 21. Swivel unit 86 obviates fluttering of the middle blade 43 by selectively restricting pivotal movement of the shank 21. The swivel unit 80 has the same freedom of movement as previously mentioned with respect to the swivel unit 1i) that is shown in detail in FIGURES 4 and 5.

When swivel unit 80 is attached to the middle damper blade 43 in place of unit in the manner shown in FIGURE 7, the middle swivel unit 80 can be adjusted so that the middle blade 43 will not rotate beyond a sub stantially horizontal plane (i.e., substantially perpendicular to the plane of frame 41) when the upper and lower damper blades 42 and 45, respectively are rotated to their fully open or substantially horizontal position as shown in FIGURE 7. This obviates any tendency for the middle blade 43 to flutter.

The swivel unit 80 is capable of providing the same flexibility of movement as the swivel unit 18 that is attached to the middle damper blade 43 of the assembly 40 shown in FIGURES 1-3, and in addition enables one to adjust the pivotal movement of the ball element 18 and shank 21 by selective movement of the sleeve 81.

As pointed out above, ball and socket swivel units 10 and 80 permit the ball element to be depressed and returned to its normal position in the socket, and pivot from side-to-side as well as up and down in the socket. :Further, these swivel units tend to maintain the ball elements snugly in their associated sockets and at the same time permit free rotation thereof. This versatility of pivotal and depressible movement and freedom from binding gives the swivel units excellent flexibility of movement and makes them well suited for damper assemblies having at least one damper blade, assemblies having at least two damper blades that rotate in the same angular direction at the same time, as well as assemblies wherein at least one blade rotates in one angular direction and at least one other blade rotates in an opposite angular direction. Still further, component parts of our damper assembly are economical to manufacture, are easily assembled and adjusted on the job, and enable the assembly to operate smoothly (i.e., with a minimum of binding, fluttering, and other similar operational difficulties that are commonly encountered) without requiring the use of parts that must be made with extreme precision.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. The combination with a damper assembly having:

a damper frame;

and at least two damper blades pi otally mounted on said frame for movement between open and closed positions; of a flutter-preventing linkage between said blades; said linkage comprising:

a longitudinally extending tubular housing;

flange means at one end of said housing for mounting said housing to one of said blades on a first side of a reference plane defined by said frame and on a first relative side of the blades pivotal axis;

a ball;

socket means at the other end of said housing for swivelly mounting said ball;

spring means within said housing, normally urging said ball outwardly in said socket means, and permitting depression of said ball along the longitudinal axis of said housing;

a shank having one end connected to said ball;

a bracket connected to the other of said two blades;

said bracket being located on the same relative side of said reference plane and on the same relative side of its blades pivotal axis as is said housing when said blades are in said closed positions;

a rod;

means connecting one end of said rod to said bracket;

means at the other end of said shank for engaging said connecting rod;

an element slideably mounted along the outside of said housing for back-and-forth movement in the direction of said housing axis;

shank-abutting means at one end of said slideable element;

and means for securing said slideable element in a predetermined position in which said shank-abutting means engages said shank when the latter extends at a pre-determined angle to the axis of the housing, whereby fluttering of said blades is prevented.

2. A flutter-preventing swivel unit for linking a pivotally mounted damper blade in a damper assembly to a connecting rod therefor; said unit comprising:

a longitudinally extended tubular housing;

flange means at one end of said housing for mounting said housing angularly on said blade;

a ball;

socket means at the other end of said housing for swivelly mounting said ball;

spring means within said housing, normally urging said ball outwardly in said socket means, and permitting depression of said ball along the longitudinal axis of said housing;

a shank having one end connected to said ball;

means at the other end of said shank for engaging said connecting rod;

an element slideably mounted along the outside of said housing for movement in the direction of said housing axis;

shank-abutting means at one end of said slideable element;

and means for securing said slidable element in a predetermined position in which said shank-abutting means engages said shank when the latter extends at a pre-determined angle to the axis of the housing, whereby fluttering of said blade is prevented.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,040,893 Young May 19, 1936 2,142,616 Otto Jan. 3, 1939 2,331,758 Barnett Oct. 12, 1943 2,332,504 Brenner Oct. 26, 1943 2,352,699 Ennis July 4, 1944 2,784,028 Swider Mar. 5, 1957 2,835,466 Rosebrook May 20, 1958 2,863,374 Hinden Dec. 9, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 191,793 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1957 

